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KABUL, Afghanistan -- The Afghan Taliban said Tuesday they have reached a preliminary deal with the Gulf state of Qatar to open a liaison office there, in what could be a step toward formal, substantive peace talks to end more than a decade of war.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid indicated the liaison office will conduct negotiations with the international community but not with the Afghan government - a condition that President Hamid Karzai has indicated he would reject. Mujahid did not say when it would open.
For the United States and its allies, the idea of a Taliban political office in the Qatari capital of Doha has become the central element in efforts to draw the insurgents into peace talks.
"Right now, having a strong presence in Afghanistan, we still want to have a political office for negotiations," said Mujahid. "In this regard, we have started preliminary talks and we have reached a preliminary understanding with relevant sides, including the government of Qatar, to have a political office for negotiations with the international community."
Mujahid's emailed statement also said the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan - the name of Afghanistan under Taliban rule - has "requested for the exchange of prisoners from Guantanamo."
He was referring to a Taliban demand that the U.S. military release about five Afghan prisoners believed to be affiliated with the Taliban from the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The Taliban are holding Bowe Bergdahl, a 25-year-old U.S. Army sergeant from Hailey, Idaho, who is the only U.S. soldier held by the insurgents. He was taken prisoner June 30, 2009, in Afghanistan.
From the American perspective, other trust-building measures would involve assurances that the insurgents cut ties with al-Qaida, accept the elected civilian government of Afghanistan and bargain in good faith.
For the U.S., one goal of talks with the Taliban would be to identify cease-fire zones that could be used as a steppingstone toward a full peace agreement that stops most fighting.
The Obama administration wants to use its current extensive military campaign and an acknowledged but incomplete plan for a long-term American military presence in Afghanistan as leverage to draw the Taliban to talks with Karzai's representatives.
The gradual process of handing over areas of the country to Afghan security control would ideally be marshaled toward encouraging peace talks, by identifying areas where a test ceasefire could be tried, a senior administration official told The Associated Press last week.
There was no immediate comment from the Afghan government to the Taliban statement, but Karzai had agreed not to oppose the opening of a Taliban office in Qatar.
However, the Taliban statement appeared to restate the militants' long-held position that they would speak directly to the U.S. government and not to the Karzai administration, which they consider a puppet government.
"There are two essential sides in the current situation in the country that has been ongoing for the past 10 years. One is the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the other side is the United States of America and their foreign allies," Mujahid said.
That could torpedo talks before they begin.
Karzai has stressed his country will accept no "foreign intervention" in its plans to seek a negotiated peace with the Taliban. The U.S. has agreed that any peace talks with the Taliban would have to be led by the Afghans.
Wahid Muzhda, a former Taliban foreign ministry official and an analyst on issues related to the group, said any future talks would probably be "between the Americans and Taliban, but the Afghan government or High Peace Council representatives will be in the talks."
He said a 70-member High Peace Council set up by Karzai more than a year ago has made little or no headway, and that the U.S. had gone ahead with behind-the-scenes talks because the Afghan government was unable to on its own.
Such talks with Taliban representatives have been going on for months in Europe and the Persian Gulf region though they are now on an unofficial hiatus at Karzai's request.
Afghan experts said the Taliban's decision to open an office in Qatar could be the result of the U.S.-led coalition's military campaign in southern and eastern Afghanistan. Raids by special operations units have also rounded up hundreds of low and midlevel Taliban commanders.
"This proposal has been on the cards for many months, and it's logical that the Taliban would want to increase their options at some point ahead of 2014," when NATO is due to end its combat role, said Theo Farrell, a professor of war studies at King's College, London.
KABUL, Afghanistan Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday welcomed a possible deal that would allow Taliban insurgents to open an office in Gulf nation of Qatar with the aim of holding talks with the United States.
"Afghanistan agrees with negotiations between United States of America and the Taliban which will result in the establishment of an office for Taliban in Qatar," a presidential statement said.
It said the government agrees with the establishment of the office because it could lead to an end of the bloody Afghan conflict.
The likelihood that the Taliban will remain a potent fighting force after most foreign forces leave by the end of 2014 is driving the U.S. and NATO to seek even an incomplete bargain with the insurgents that would keep them talking with the Kabul government.
On Tuesday, the Taliban announced that they had reached a preliminary understanding to open the representative office, an unprecedented step toward peace negotiations that might lead to a winding down of the 10-year conflict.
In the past, the Islamist group has publicly opposed peace offers. The insurgents, who perceive themselves as winning the war, have repeatedly said they would not engage in talks with the government while foreign troops remain on Afghan soil.
Conducting talks with the U.S. through the office in Qatar, while keeping the Afghan government indirectly involved, could be a formula for satisfying that demand.
The Guardian is reporting that the United States has agreed "in principle" to release several Taliban figures from Guantanamo Bay following the Taliban's preliminary deal with Qatar to open a political office in Doha.
Several high-ranking officials are included among the detainees who would be released, The Guardian notes. Fox News reported last week that Mullah Mohammed Fazl, who was suspected of killing Shiite Muslims in Afghanistan, is among those being considered for release.
According to the Associated Press, the only U.S. soldier held by the Taliban is 25-year-old Bowe Bergdahl of Idaho, who was taken prisoner in 2009.
The Taliban opening a liaison office has become a central focus for the United States to begin peace talks with the organization, and could indicate the Taliban's possible willingness to begin negotiations.
"Right now, having a strong presence in Afghanistan, we still want to have a political office for negotiations," Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said, according to the Associated Press.
Releasing prisoners from Guantanamo would be a tricky operation. "To take this step, the [Obama] administration have to have sufficient confidence that the Taliban are going to reciprocate," former Obama administration advisor Vali Nasr told The Guardian.
Guantanamo Bay Taliban Detainees To Be Released: Report
The Guardian is reporting that the United States has agreed "in principle" to release several Taliban figures from Guantanamo Bay following the Taliban's preliminary deal with Qatar to open a political office in Doha.
Several high-ranking officials are included among the detainees who would be released, The Guardian notes. Fox News reported last week that Mullah Mohammed Fazl, who was suspected of killing Shiite Muslims in Afghanistan, is among those being considered for release.
According to the Associated Press, the only U.S. soldier held by the Taliban is 25-year-old Bowe Bergdahl of Idaho, who was taken prisoner in 2009.
The Taliban opening a liaison office has become a central focus for the United States to begin peace talks with the organization, and could indicate the Taliban's possible willingness to begin negotiations.
"Right now, having a strong presence in Afghanistan, we still want to have a political office for negotiations," Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said, according to the Associated Press.
Releasing prisoners from Guantanamo would be a tricky operation. "To take this step, the [Obama] administration have to have sufficient confidence that the Taliban are going to reciprocate," former Obama administration advisor Vali Nasr told The Guardian.
Guantanamo Bay Taliban Detainees To Be Released: Report
......All four were deemed "high" risks by US military intelligence officials, according to leaked JTF-GTMO memos. In addition, JTF-GTMO recommended that all four remain in the Defense Department's custody, as opposed to being transferred to the Afghan government. Approximately 200 other Afghans have been repatriated from Guantanamo. Two of the four Taliban commanders are wanted by the UN for war crimes.
All four had extensive ties to al Qaeda prior to their capture. Forswearing al Qaeda's terrorism is a key goal of the peace talks.
Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archiv...#ixzz1iV5UC04r
Guantanamo Bay Taliban Detainees To Be Released: Report
The Guardian is reporting that the United States has agreed "in principle" to release several Taliban figures from Guantanamo Bay following the Taliban's preliminary deal with Qatar to open a political office in Doha.
Several high-ranking officials are included among the detainees who would be released, The Guardian notes. Fox News reported last week that Mullah Mohammed Fazl, who was suspected of killing Shiite Muslims in Afghanistan, is among those being considered for release.
According to the Associated Press, the only U.S. soldier held by the Taliban is 25-year-old Bowe Bergdahl of Idaho, who was taken prisoner in 2009.
The Taliban opening a liaison office has become a central focus for the United States to begin peace talks with the organization, and could indicate the Taliban's possible willingness to begin negotiations.
"Right now, having a strong presence in Afghanistan, we still want to have a political office for negotiations," Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said, according to the Associated Press.
Releasing prisoners from Guantanamo would be a tricky operation. "To take this step, the [Obama] administration have to have sufficient confidence that the Taliban are going to reciprocate," former Obama administration advisor Vali Nasr told The Guardian.
Guantanamo Bay Taliban Detainees To Be Released: Report
So, who are these guys to be released?
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archiv...eks_freedo.php
......All four were deemed "high" risks by US military intelligence officials, according to leaked JTF-GTMO memos. In addition, JTF-GTMO recommended that all four remain in the Defense Department's custody, as opposed to being transferred to the Afghan government. Approximately 200 other Afghans have been repatriated from Guantanamo. Two of the four Taliban commanders are wanted by the UN for war crimes.
All four had extensive ties to al Qaeda prior to their capture. Forswearing al Qaeda's terrorism is a key goal of the peace talks.
Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archiv...#ixzz1iV5UC04r
Guantanamo Bay Taliban Detainees To Be Released: Report
Guantanamo Bay Taliban Detainees To Be Released: Report
So, who are these guys to be released?
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archiv...eks_freedo.php
......All four were deemed "high" risks by US military intelligence officials, according to leaked JTF-GTMO memos. In addition, JTF-GTMO recommended that all four remain in the Defense Department's custody, as opposed to being transferred to the Afghan government. Approximately 200 other Afghans have been repatriated from Guantanamo. Two of the four Taliban commanders are wanted by the UN for war crimes.
All four had extensive ties to al Qaeda prior to their capture. Forswearing al Qaeda's terrorism is a key goal of the peace talks.
Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archiv...#ixzz1iV5UC04r
These guys are just going to have a party when they are released, get debriefed and go right back into the field. This whole plan is going to be a failure.
These guys are just going to have a party when they are released, get debriefed and go right back into the field. This whole plan is going to be a failure.
But Obama will 'win' the war and have brought peace.
These guys are just going to have a party when they are released, get debriefed and go right back into the field. This whole plan is going to be a failure.
But Obama will 'win' the war and have brought peace.
We aren't winning this war.
The IRA eventually became legit. It's a great way to get militants to become more responsible. Give them stuff to do. Governing is a heck of a lot harder then complaining.
Although, when they were governing..they were pretty lousy at it. But at least they kiboshed the Heroin trade in Afghanistan.
But Obama will 'win' the war and have brought peace.
We aren't winning this war.
Especially since there's nothing to "win"..unless the intent is to colonize Afghanistan.
Best we can hope for is a brutal dictator to keep them quiet.
What's the problem with the Taliban having consulate, trade, and liasion offices in New York?The IRA eventually became legit. It's a great way to get militants to become more responsible. Give them stuff to do. Governing is a heck of a lot harder then complaining.
Although, when they were governing..they were pretty lousy at it. But at least they kiboshed the Heroin trade in Afghanistan.
I don't like the idea of this Taliban expanding its tentacles into other countries, whats next a Taliban liason office in downtown New York?
These guys are just going to have a party when they are released, get debriefed and go right back into the field. This whole plan is going to be a failure.
But Obama will 'win' the war and have brought peace.
We aren't winning this war.
What's the problem with the Taliban having consulate, trade, and liasion offices in New York?The IRA eventually became legit. It's a great way to get militants to become more responsible. Give them stuff to do. Governing is a heck of a lot harder then complaining.
Although, when they were governing..they were pretty lousy at it. But at least they kiboshed the Heroin trade in Afghanistan.
I don't like the idea of this Taliban expanding its tentacles into other countries, whats next a Taliban liason office in downtown New York?
Vietnam has had them there for several years.
The IRA eventually became legit. It's a great way to get militants to become more responsible. Give them stuff to do. Governing is a heck of a lot harder then complaining.
Although, when they were governing..they were pretty lousy at it. But at least they kiboshed the Heroin trade in Afghanistan.
What's the problem with the Taliban having consulate, trade, and liasion offices in New York?The IRA eventually became legit. It's a great way to get militants to become more responsible. Give them stuff to do. Governing is a heck of a lot harder then complaining.
Although, when they were governing..they were pretty lousy at it. But at least they kiboshed the Heroin trade in Afghanistan.
I don't like the idea of this Taliban expanding its tentacles into other countries, whats next a Taliban liason office in downtown New York?
Vietnam has had them there for several years.
The Vietnamese killed 58,000+ Americans and now are a "Most Favored Trading Partner"
The Taliban deserve to be treated with equal respect.
Since they are going to be part of the Afghan government that we set up.
We will never defeat the Taliban by military means.The Vietnamese killed 58,000+ Americans and now are a "Most Favored Trading Partner"
The Taliban deserve to be treated with equal respect.
Since they are going to be part of the Afghan government that we set up.
You can't let the people you are currently fighting against open up liason offices in your country while you are currently fighting them, makes no sense and goes against everything in warfare.
